C. SADE TURNIPSEED,MBA/MS/PhD

POB 64 INDIANOLA, MS 38751 • USA

662.347.8198 • •

HISTORIC PRESERVATION / CULTURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES

Assistant Professor, History

Mississippi Valley State University, Itta Bena, MS (1/14 - current)

I guide the instruction of students in Early American, Modern U.S. and World History classes for undergraduate and continuing education students. The classes offered presentboth face-to-face and virtual (online) educational opportunities. This is a great opportunity in which to encourage a deeper understanding and interest in history and world culture(s)for lifelong learners. This is a full-time contracted position.

CONTACT INFO: Dr. Mushi, History Department Chair; ; 662.254.3357;

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR / PUBLIC RELATIONS COORDINATOR

KHAFRE Inc. 10/2003-current

As founder and chief administrator of this non-profit Mississippi-based arts organization, I oversee the development and public relations campaign for three projects:

  • Cotton Pickers of America Monument and Sharecroppers Interpretive Center, Founder
  • MS Delta Blues Back to Africa Education and Cultural Exchange, Creative Director
  • Youth Empowerment Program, Healthy U Educational Director

Each project is an innovative, creative, entity in and of itself that requires entrepreneurial skills and a continual updating ofbest practices and accessible technological tools. It is within this capacity that I secured and maintained professional relationships with Honorary Chairpersons, and spokespeople, such as: Maya Angelou, B.B.King, Bobby Rush, Ed Dwight, Clifton Taulbert and others. The skills I bring to this project are enormous and pivotal to: team development, leadership, fund raising/accounting, stage productions, special events, public relations/communications (internal/external—media and community-based), international relations, historic preservation, African American cultural heritage education, political awareness, and consensus-building. This is community service work done on a volunteer basis.

CONTACT INFO: Khafre, Inc Board Chair; ;

DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION / COMMUNITY OUTREACH / PUBLIC RELATIONS

BB King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center, Indianola, MS—9/2007-10/2009

This experience offered a tremendous opportunity to develop professional skilss as a professional public historian. In this position, I expanded and applied creative ingenuity of the constituents in Mississippi Delta. Responsibilities included developing and implementing projects, special events and activities involving: community leaders, school groups, and churches that encouraged interest, exploration, and contributions to the BB King Museum. In this position, I also conceptualized, produced, and orchestrated the first documented Harmonica Parade considered to be, “the most ambitious project ever in the city of Indianola.” I functioned as the liaison to teachers/professors, government officials, and ministers at all levels. I wrote and administered grants for youth empowerment, early childhood education, community affairs and health-related programs. The public/media aspect of this job provided me the occasions to produce and distribute public information, in/outreach that included: press conferences, live interviews, press releases, editorials, articles, and panel discussions. This was a full-time permanent position.

CONTACT INFO: ; 662.887.3659.

UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE/COMMUNITY OUTREACH/PUBLIC RELATIONS

FESPACO ~ Paul Robeson Awards Initiative -AKA- Presenting Reel African Images (PRAI), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, 2003-2009

As founder and administrator of PRAI—an Internet based organization—I organized 250+ international film enthusiasts, who were encouraged to work as a team to curate, coordinate and submit funds, films and other pertinent information to the oldest and most prestigious film festival in Africa, the Pan Africa Film Festival in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (FESPACO). In addition, this enabled me to establish a six-year working relationship with the Minister of Culture and Director General of FESPACO. I successfully negotiated the travel and accommodations for over one hundred filmmakers, film enthusiasts, African tourists and festival participants. I am extremely proud of the hundreds of films that are now in permanent collection at Gaston Kabore’s IMAGINE Educational Facility, in Ouagadougou. I also secured personal endorsements and support from: Dr. Maya Angelou & William Greaves co-chairs, 2005, Harry Belafonte, 2007; and, Charles Burnett, 2009, who all participated as Honorary Chairpersons.

DIRECTOR OF CULTURAL ARTS / COMMUNITY OUTREACH / PUBLIC RELATIONS

Mississippi Action for Community Education (MACE), Greenville, MS, 2007

As Cultural Arts Director, I managed all aspects of MACEs cultural arts, special programs, and community outreach efforts. This Division was charged with implementing the objectives of the MACE Delta Arts Programs, e.g., Delta Blues and Heritage Festival, Blues ‘n Schools and the International Blues Film Festival. Within nine months, I expanded the concept and goals of the Cultural Arts Division and created: “The Jazzy Blues Affair,” “Blues Film Festival series,” “The African & Delta Blues Exchange Program” as ongoing cultural relations programs. This was a full-time permanent position.

ADDITIONAL PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES

Mayoral Candidate, (Independent)

City of Indianola, MS, 2013

Host/Producer, Delta Renaissance and Delta Scene, Talk Show(s)

NBC and FOX television affiliates, Greenville, MS, 2007-current

Public Relations/Audience Services Associate

KQED-TV Public Broadcasting Service, San Francisco, CA, 1990-92

PRODUCTIONS

The 3rd Annual Sweat Equity Investment in the Cotton Kingdom symposium and Cotton Pickers Ball, featuring Ed Dwight on the MVSU campus, in Itta Bena, MS • The 2nd Annual Sweat Equity Investment in the Cotton Kingdom symposium and Cotton Pickers Ball, featuring Otis Clay, Marshall Thompson, Syl Johnson, Helen Sims and Ed Dwight on the MVSU campus, in Itta Bena, MS • Wisdom of the Elders: Messages for our Youth • The Sweat Equity Investment in the Cotton Kingdom symposium and Cotton Pickers Ball, virtual presentations from Mali, West Africa, Mississippi Valley State University• The Healthy U is a lecture series • The Fannie Lou Hamer Empowerment Project for the B.B. King Museum & Delta Interpretive Center • The Harmonica Project/Parade, Grand Opening Ceremonies for the B.B. King Museum & Delta Interpretive Center, approximately 8, 000 students participated in a statewide effort to promote Blues in Mississippi • Sugar Pain Blues, Errol Barrow Centre for Creative Imagination, University West Indies, Barbados • Dr. Maya Angelou and Sweet Honey in the Rock for a "Sweet Sunday at the Zellerbach-A Tribute to Women" in Zellerbach Auditorium, Berkeley, CA • Fashion in the Symbols of the Adinkra--Ghanaian Embassy • Dr. John Henrik Clarke: Master Teacher of All Time--video series • JUNETEENTH: Oakland Style (Award winning documentary) • Forty Years Tribute to Community Service, Marion Barry, Mayor Washington, DC • FESPACO: The Paul Robeson Award Initiative, Maya Angelou and William Greaves co-chair. FESPACO 2005 “Telling Our Story” The Documentary • Don’t Judge Me, A Poetrical (director) • A Small Child Shall Lead Them to Love (director), partial listing!

AWARDS / ACCOMPLISHMENTS

  • Historic Preservation Award, AKA Sorority, Mound Bayou, MS, 2/22/15
  • Middle Tennessee State University—Huhta Fellow, 2014
  • Community Service Tribute: Black History Month Spotlight, New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, Indianola, MS, 2/9/14
  • Studio 53, Community Award, St Louis, MO, 2013
  • Youth Outreach and Cultural Learning Award, NAACP Freedom Fund Banquet, 4/12
  • U.S. Congressional Honor for commitment to preserving the rich history and heritage of the Mississippi Delta, by Congressman Bennie G Thompson, October 23, 2012
  • Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour selected Fellow, Delta Regional Authority, Delta Leadership Institute, 2008
  • Delta Blues Most Dedicated Award, MS Blues Reunion Festival, Belzoni, MS, 11/11
  • Participant, George Melendez Wright, New Orleans Conference, 2011
  • Delta Regional Authority: Delta Leadership Institute, Fellow, ‘08-09
  • MC/Announcer, Indianola Christmas Parade, Indianola, MS
  • First African American Woman to sit on the Economic Development Foundation, Board of Directors, in Choctaw County Mississippi, USA, 2004-2007
  • Entrepreneur of the Year: African Bridge, Inc, 2004
  • Telecommunications Education Trust—Jack P. Eckley, Graduate Scholarship, 1995
  • Republique de Cote d’Ivoire, Ville d’Abidjan—Les Palmes d’Honneur de la City, issued by Mel Theodore EG, Maire de Cocody, 1993
  • Independent Producer of the Year, Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame, 1993
  • American Women Radio & TV (AWRT), Outstanding Media Student Award, 1987

Partial listing!

EDUCATION

2010-Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN

• PhDPublic History—Huhta Fellow (2014-15)

1999George Washington University, Washington, DC

• Certificate of Completion, Distance Education & Web-based Instructional Designs

1995-97Golden Gate University, San Francisco, CA

• MBA, Marketing/International Management

• MS, Telecommunications Management

1992-93University Berkeley, Extension, Berkeley, CA

• Continuing Education, Advertising

1989-91San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA

• BS, Media (radio & television) Communications/English

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